The top five are fine. Duke is a marquee opponent. Butler and Louisville should both keep up their end. Arkansas was an NCAA Tournament team last season, and Marquette ought to hold up as a quality opponent.

Among the smaller teams, UC-Davis and UT-Arlington, strong low-majors, would help raise the strength-of-schedule numbers as well. Montana State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, less so. The latter of those two would also be the one sub-300 RPI opponent allowed in Archie Miller’s contract, if he wants his $125,000 scheduling bonus.

That’s the bulk of IU’s nonconference schedule. It’s tough enough at the top and, based on what we know now, strong enough in the middle that I think Indiana can expect a strong SOS number.

Archie Miller updated Davis’ rehab schedule during his Huber Farms swing in late May. Miller said Davis will be limited through the summer, working slowly back toward full health and then full fitness. Reading between the lines, it doesn’t sound like anyone expects a full-go De’Ron Davis until sometime in the fall, which, given the severity of his injury, is not terribly surprising.

@Cabbyfromgreene tweets: “If Davis doesn't come back until 2019, then he will have lost a full season of eligibility. Does it not make sense for him to redshirt? He would have two full seasons left to dominate the Big Ten.”

I don’t think we can say definitively right now that he’s out until 2019. Put it this way: I would guess a redshirt isn’t off the table if there are setbacks, but nobody’s mentioned that as a possibility. So I would classify it as unlikely right now.

@Ajfxtheory tweets: “After offering a scholarship to a recruit, is there any reason a school can reject a commitment? For example, IU is probably wanting only one guard for 2019 with three scholarships set to be available. So, if Newman committed and then Carton did, could IU reject Carton or either?”

This is a good and relevant question, with the 2019 scene heating up again.

And the truth is there’s no one good answer, other than that this is one of the awkward parts of recruiting. There are absolutely times when a player holds an offer, wants to commit and is essentially declined. And that’s not just in basketball, but in many sports.

That said, the majority of the time, these things tend to work themselves out. A player might hold an offer but not get much contact from a staff, and focus his attention elsewhere. A staff might also change its priorities, or maybe just want to add talent and figure out where it fits later, and take more commitments at a certain position than it once planned to. This is especially prevalent in football, where wants and needs are understandably fluid.

So again, this is a good question without a perfect answer. The truth is, sometimes it does get awkward. Most of the time, it works itself out.

@lawguyNA tweets: “What is more likely this coming year — IU football bowl game or IU basketball Sweet Sixteen appearance?”

Would have to say the latter. I don’t think a bowl is off the table for Tom Allen’s team, but he has a lot to replace and, as ever, the road to six wins in the Big Ten East is difficult. Basketball isn’t guaranteed that level of success either, but Indiana should be improved, and any team with Juwan Morgan and Romeo Langford suiting up has a solid foundation to build from.

@aluke_ tweets: “Have you heard any reason why Thomas Bryant was released by the Lakers and is there any word on where he will go?”

Having obviously followed Bryant’s career from afar, my understanding was the Lakers released him to avoid his next season’s salary becoming fully guaranteed at a prescribed deadline. As for a next destination, he’s already landed with Washington.

@tripledipled tweets: “MSU, PSU, Iowa at home, do we find a win there or no?”

Assuming we’re talking football here, I’d be hard pressed to say yes right now. Michigan State and Penn State will both be difficult, although Penn State post-Barkley is something I can’t adequately grade yet. Iowa is maybe the best chance there (I’m still leaning toward Michigan State as my preseason favorite). The Hawkeyes look familiar — stout defense and a power ground attack, and there’s a lot of returning talent in the passing game as well, starting with quarterback Nate Stanley.

I will say that winning at least one of these three, while not perhaps required for bowl eligibility in 2018, would certainly go a long way toward that goal.

@Kingsley_52 tweets: “If Tre Roberson doesn’t transfer, does IU make a bowl game in 2014, even with Nate Sudfeld being injured?”

This is probably the biggest what-if for IU football of Kevin Wilson’s tenure. My gut instinct is yes, because of Roberson’s experience next to Tevin Coleman’s breakout season.

Ahad writes in this week: “The last time IU was preseason No. 1 was back in 2012-13 with Oladipo, Zeller, etc. In your eyes, would that team still be No. 1 in this year’s preseason poll against teams like Kentucky, Kansas, Duke? If not where would you slot them in this year?”

Another intriguing hypothetical.

My best guess is they’d still be at or very near No. 1 overall, just because I think people tend to favor what they know versus what they think is possible. For example: Kentucky, UCLA and Arizona each signed three five-star players in the 2012 class. It wasn’t like there weren’t teams loaded with young talent then. But voters could look at a body of evidence with Indiana that wasn’t going to exist yet for teams with high-potential freshmen.

Obviously it’s impossible to say for sure. And I don’t want to speak for every AP or coaches poll voter. That’s just my guess.